Invitation to Understanding Islam: Part 5

JIHAD

If anyone slew innocent it would be as if he slew the whole of mankind. [The Noble Qur’an 5:32] Jihad is not terrorism. Jihad is not killing innocent people. Jihad is not the strong bullying the weak. Jihad is not collateral damage. Jihad is not tolerance of oppression. Jihad is not silence against injustice. Jihad is not imposing your values on others. Jihad is not a man-made concept. The Jihad of Self-defense Jihad is conveying the message of The One True God. We are on this planet as representatives of The Merciful and Compassionate God to establish peace and harmony through complete submission to His Commands. Jihad is a concept of The One True God, Who alone deserves all worship. All efforts in the way of God are jihad. Giving to charity and fighting tyranny are examples of acts of jihad. Muslims are permitted to take up arms against those who wage war against them. Armed jihad is therefore permitted only in self-defense. The retaliation against the armed attacks must be measured and proportionate. Armed jihad is temporary in that it ends when the enemy ceases its aggression. Muslims must move quickly to establish peace once the enemy seeks peace. In Islam, showing compassion to the enemy that has been defeated or in seeking peace is considered superior to achieving victory. The aim of armed jihad is to restore peace and avert more wars and aggression. Muslims are prohibited from engaging in armed acts of aggression even toward their sworn enemies. When others commit murders, their religion is never mentioned. But Muslims resort to violence against political oppression, economic exploitation and the taking away of their land, Islam is put on trial. Muslims have a duty to explain the truth. Jihad is conveying the true meaning of jihad to Muslims and non-Muslims. Today the enemies of Truth can destroy others without entering their territories. They can destroy a country’s economy by speculating on the country’s currency. Jihad is taking proactive measures against these ‘unarmed’ combatants in a manner that is tactically savvy and multi-faceted, and seek to restore economic and political justice and peace. Jihad is acquiring knowledge and developing skills that will make it difficult for others to easily oppress and kill Muslims. Jihad is fostering unity amongst the believers in The One True God to strengthen the coalition to establish justice and world peace. Jihad is to be vigilant against the attempts by others to make us define jihad in manner that fits their ulterior motives. Jihad is not responding in a manner desired by others that will make it easy for them to tarnish the image of Muslims and Islam. Jihad is preparing for the jihad of self-defense and propagating the truth by winning the greater jihad against the Self. The jihad against the Enemy within The jihad against the pull of the lower forces within us is a permanent jihad. Greed, lust, vengeance and jealousy are amongst numerous types of evil within us that leads to misery in our lives. Observance of the five daily prayers will shield us from shameful deeds. Performing these well spaced out prayers at the appointed times will leave no time for mischievous deeds. Fasting from dawn to dusk and doubling of good deeds during Ramadan will reenergize our moral batteries to fight the lower forces. Paying the annual poor-rate or zakat is a reminder to us that other have a right over our wealth and that we should care for the less fortunate just as Allah has been generous to us. Through a combination of obligatory duties and other acts that please Allah, Islam offers an integrated program of worship and life-style that strengthens our defenses against the pull of the lower forces in us. Success in this greater jihad against the enemy within is the foundation for achieving victory in the jihad against the hypocrites and the disbelievers. Welcome to The Straight Path of Islam. By Dr Y Mansoor Marican, Ph. D